St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-11-15
BASE BALL.
Changes Made in the Rules by the
Joint Committee.

PITTsBURG. Nov. 14.-The joint COM
mittee of the National league and Amer
lean association Oh the revision of base
ball rules met at the Hotel Anderson in
this city at 10 o'clock this morning. The
league representatives are MeSSrs.
Spalding, Chicago; Day, New York.
and Scandrett, of Pittsburg. the latter
representing Rogers, of Philadelphia.
Those of the association are; Phelps,
Louisville: Williams, Cleveland, and
Barnie, Baltimore. The committee Or
ganized by the election of e. II. Phelps
chairman and MeSsrs. Scandrett and
Williams secretaries. A resolution was
adopted that majority of each delega-
ton from the league and association
shall be necessary to adopt any amend
ment changing the playing rules, and
that the unanimous recommendations of
the joint committee will accompany the
report of such changes to the two re-
spective associations. Among the
changes suggested were the following:
That player be called out for cutting
the base without appeal from the cap
tain; that the batter's box be placed
twelve inches further from the
home plate, and that base hit
on balls be abolished. These sugges-
tiOns were discussed but action deferred
until later. A resolution was then
adopted that the question of the adviSa-
bility of each club having one or more
extra men in uniform in order that they
may be introduced into the game at any
time, be referred to the annual meetings
of the two organizations for discussion.
The object OF the amendment is to pre-
vent players from Sulking on the field.
Adjourned for dinner. The afternoon
session lasted until late this evening.
After adjournment the committee an
nounced that they had agreed upon the
following changes in the rules:
Rule %. section 8, referring to score
cards, has been amended so that any
contemplated changes in teams after the
publication of the score card must be
submitted to the umpire for his ap-
prOval.
Rule AZ, relating to batsmen, has been
changed as follows: IF on the third
strike the ball hits the person or cloth
ing of the batsman he shall be declared
out; also, after two strikes has been
called, if the batsman attempt to make
a foul hit, he shall be declared out"
Rule has been changed from four
strikes and five balls to three strikes
and five balls.
The rule allowing base hit ON five
balls has been abolished, but at the sug-
gestiOn of President Day five balls will
still be considered factor in earned
runs. A base on balls will be credited
against the pitcher in the error column.
Rule 50. section 1, has been amended,
allowing runner to take base if the
ball hits the umpire. If the ball struck
by the batSman hits base runner after
all attempt has been mode to field it,
the rnnner shall not be declared out.
If base runner knocks down or runs
into fielder he shall be declared out.
A resolution was adopted providing
for the appointment of a representative
from each association to prepare an
official report of the changes to send to
their respective organizations.
The reports that a scheme was on foot
to form
EASTERN AND WESTERN LEAGUES
out of the present organizations appear
to have some foundation. Manager
Barnie, of the Baltimore club. stated to
a reporter that efforts were being made
to make a change, as expenses of trans
portation since the passage of the inter-
state commerce bill made it impossible
for base ball clubs to travel. The
scheme is to form two organizations Of
eight clubs each. one to consist of the
Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia.
Boston, New York and Pittsburg, and
the other Chicago, st. Louis, Louisville,
Cidcnnati, indianapolis, Cleveland,
Detroit and probably Milwaukee or Buff
falo. j. Il. Day, of New York, in
speaking of the Brotherhood, said the
league would give the players a hear
ing on Wednesday, but if they were
convinced that the organization would
jeopardize the national game they
would have none of it and the Brother
hood would get the worst of the deal.